Scallop drag



July 27, 1954 A, QLDEN 2,684,549

SCALLOP DRAG INVENTOR /Q/vofw dwf-N Mya/27m@ July 27, 1954 A OLDEN 2,684,549

sCALLoP DRAG Filed May 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Je JAL a Q o INVENTOR gli A Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to dredges and more particularly to a drag for scallops and other shell fish.

Drags of this general type are well known in the art and have been used for years with relatively few changes therein. Although they have been generally satisfactory, these drags have been relatively inefficient in use in that structural limitations prevent their harvesting all the scallops within their path while being towed along a sea or river bottom by a boat. For example, the nets of prior art structures are attached directly to a rigid drag bar and are thus prevented from closely following the contour of the ocean bottom to scoop up all of the scallops.

Accordingly, the chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved drag for scallops and other shell fish which will be eicient in use so as to harvest a maximum crop from any kind of river or sea bottom.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved drag for scallops in which the net is free to closely follow sea bottom contours extending either longitudinally or transversely of the direction of tow or both.

A further important object is to provide an improved drag having means to stir up the scallops so as to increase the harvest scooped into the net.

A still further important object is to provide drag for scallops, which will be strong, rugged y and of long life in use, and easily and economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In its broadest aspects, the invention contemplates an improved drag for scallops and other shell fish in which the net is arranged so as to closely follow the sea bottom and exclude large stones while other means are provided for stirring up the scallops lying on the bottom so as to increase the harvest.

In the drawings, I have shown two embodiments of the invention. In these showings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved drag comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of still another embodiment of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, numeral It generally indicates the drag as a whole which includes a frame having a top bar or cross member I2 above and spaced from a bottom bar or cross member I4, and connecting end bars Iii all formed from a length of flat bar stock. The bar I2 is rigidly connected to and supported by a plurality of transversely spaced L-shaped plate structures I8, xed to and resting on the bottom bar I4, and end or outer supports 2o being triangular plates having a plurality of spaced apertures 2| for a reason which will become apparent.

The rear ends of the plates I8 and 20 are connected by a rod 22 to thus complete a strong and rigid frame structure which may be supported on a river or sea bottom by a plurality of spaced shoes 24 and 24a which elevate the frame 3 to 4 inches above the bottom. The shoes 24 and 24a are sled shaped in front to avoid unnecessary drag and are suitably secured to the frame by welding or bolts. Each end shoe 24a includes a chain ring 25 also detachably secured thereto.

The drag I 0 is towed along a sea bottom by means of a bail 26 having a tow wire connecting ring 21 at its loop, the legs 28 of the bail curving downwardly and rearwardly therefrom and being fixed to the ends of the lower bar I4. A plurality of brace bars 30 extend forwardly from the bar I4 adjacent the plates I8 and have a rigid connection with the legs 2t` to further brace the drag frame at spaced points against the load of the drag net when applied at those points.

A plurality of forwardly and downwardly inclined bars 32 and 32a connect the legs 23 and braces 30 with the upper bar I2 and act as an inclined support for one or more suction plates 34 which extend the width of the frame. These plates form an important feature of the present invention and have an important function in addition to that of assisting in holding the drag against the sea. bottom. It will be noted that the plates 34 are positioned in advance of and between the upper and lower frame bars I2 and I4 respectively. The water passing over the inclined plates creates a suction rearwardly thereof so that scallops lying on the bottom are stirred up and pass into the net through an entrance I3 defined by the bars l2 and I4. Further agitation of the bottom may be accomplished by a tickler chain 35 connected to the chain ring 25 and extending across the drag in front of the net in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. Tickler chain 35 also assists in keeping large rocks out of the net.

The net indicated as a whole as 3B comprises a lower section 31 of iron rings or links and an upper section 38 of heavy cord, such as sash cord, formed into meshes. The net sections are both suitably connected at their rear ends to a heavy club 3S =to which a net dumping chain il!) is also connected. The forward end of the upper net section 38 preferably terminates in connecting rings 35h which are received in a pluralityof spaced apertures t2 formed in the upper rameb-ar l2. The trailing edge of the net is indicated at 31a and the leading edge at 38a. SeeFigure 2.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the connection of the lower net section 3l to the drag frame. The forward end of the net section 31 terminates in a sweep chain d4 which is secured Yto the rear of the `drag frame at two spaced points -by vthe rings 25 in theend -shoes instead of directly to the rod 22 throughout -its length (Figures 1 3 inclusive). The sides of the net are closed -by connecting rings or links to the apertures -Zi in the triangular endplates Eil.

It will now be readily apparent :that the sweep chain sii, not being directly connected throughout its length to the rod 22, vmay readily follow 'the contour of the seatbottom toscoop more scallops therefrom than was orrnerlypossible vwhen so'connected to the rod 22. Thus,-on smooth bottoms, an increased yield or-harvest oi scallops may be had with less ,rocks or trashrdue tothe inclined suction plate 3d and on rough bottoms, the rearward spacing ol' ithesweepchain ill `from the -frame rod 2i.' along most oi its length allows more complete harvest.

The modiiication disclosed in Figure i is particularly suitedvf or use on stony sea bottoms, especially, where the stones are large, and is identical in all respects to Figures l-S ofthe drawings except that stringerv chains and two suction plates @t are used. The Stringer V'chains maybe spaced as desired and connect spaced points-'oi the sweep chain Mi with the adjacent rings ^of the end shoes 2da. As seenin Figure-4, :the sweep chain la has been divided intowfour sweep sections 52 which function as above described. and the stringer chains act'fto keep -rocksout yof .the net.

In a further modiiicationfillustrated in Figure 5, the stringer chains '5e are replaced'by 'the Vsweep chain dsa connected directly :to Tthe towing trame at a few spaced points 54 and '55 intermediate the end plates 2%) to form a seriespf-arcuate -sections 53 along the trailing edge of the lower sec Ytion 3l oi the net. It will be appreciated that the arcuate sections, 58 thus formed are or" appreciable depth to'give Ythe-flexibility required for the sections to follow the seabottomclosely.

The use of the'improved scallop drag -is believed to be readily apparent. When towed along 'the sea bottom by a iishing` boat;V it wi1l eiiiciently scoop up `the shellshdue to the suctioncreated by the inclinedplates and the-.ability of the lower net to follow the bottom contours. If the bottom is rocky, stringer chains may be added tor-educe 'the length of the sweepchain sections and prevent the entrance of the rocks. `When the net is full, it is lifted to the boatde'ok by means of the connecting ringZl' and readily emptiedl byineans of dump chain 40.

lt is to be understood that. the liformsfof ymy invention herewith shown and vdescribedare to be taken as preferred examples of thefsarne and extending cross-members spaced apart-in a verti cal plane to form an entrance channel for the shell sh, a rigid braced bail extending forwardly from said frame, said bail having inclined brace Imeans xedly joining the upper of said frame cross members and the bail, a net extending rearwa'rdly of lsaid frame entrance channel and having trailing Vedge and leading edge portions, said trailing edge portion being connected to but spaced from the lower of said cross members to enable the net to conform with the contour of the vsea bottom, Ythe leadingedge portion of said 4net being connected to the upper'oi said cross members to form a bag and at least one inclined i suction plate positioned intermediately and for- ,wardly of `said cross. members upon said brace ymeans tocreate turbulences for bottom.

gitating the sea 2. Adrag according to claim l wherein the :trailing `edge portion of thenet comprises a chain ha-vinga linkage substantially heavier than the imesh of the drag net and a tickler chain connected tothe rear of said frame arranged to lie substantially immediately ahead of the trailing edge portion oi2 Ithenet to agitate the 'seabottoin 3. yAidragior .scooping scallops and other-shell inshfirorn seabottoms comprising a frame includf ci the frame-and :xedly se ured to Ythe frame rearwardly ofthe lower oi said cross members, a

rigid braced bail extending forwardly from said frame, said bail having inclined brace means xedly joining :the upper of said ,frame cross ymembers and the bail, a net extendingl rearwardly of therame entranceA channel. and having trailing edge andL lleadingedge portions, the trailing edge portion of one of its ends being connected `to but spaced :from the-lower of said crossJ members andv .said rod to enable it to conform to the contour oi the sea bottom, the edge leading portion of said net being connected to `the upper ofsaid cross members to form a bag, and Stringer vfchains connecting said .trailing edge portion and said'rod at spaced'vpoints intermediate of the rod.

4. A device of the character described in claim 3 further comprisingat' least one inclined suctionrplate positioned intermediate and forwardly of said bars upon saidbrace means to create turbulences for agitating the sea bottom.

' 5. A drag for recovering scallops and other shell ish from sea bottoms comprising a reinforced frame including a pair' of connected, superpose and laterallyv extending cross members spaced apart in a Vertical plane to form an 'entrance channel for the shell iish, a bail extending forwardly or said frame, a net extending rearwardly of said frame, said net having trailing edge and leading edge portions,v bracing for the frame elctending from the upper cross member angularly to the bail member :and ixedly secured in bail member; at least two plate supports joined to and trailing the laterally extending cross member Vto yreinforce the frame, .a frame rod extending transversely of the frame and nXedly secured to each said trailing plate, a plurality of shoes attached beneath the lower of said cross members and rearwardly about the transverse frame rod, connecting means attached to said shoes the trailing edge portion of said net being attached to said connecting means and spaced from said transverse rod sufficiently to permit conformation with the contour of the sea bottom, the leading edge of said net being connected to the upper of said cross members to form a bag, a chain secured to and along said trailing edge of said net to guard the trailing edge from striking obstacles, and inclined plate means mounted on said bracing of said frame for creating turbulences behind the inclined plate and at the front of the net against the sea bottom to agitate the same.

6. A drag for recovering scallops and other shell fish from sea bottoms comprising a frame including a pair of connected and laterally eX- tending cross members spaced apart in a vertical plane to form an entrance channel for the shell fish, at least two plate supports joined to and trailing the laterally extending cross members to re-inforce the frame, a frame rod extending transversely of the frame and xedly secured to each said trailing plate, a bail extending forwardly from the frame, inclined brace means joining one of said cross members and said bail, a net extending rearwardly of said frame having leading edge and trailing edge portions, the leading edge portion of said net being secured to the upper of said cross members substantially entirely along the width of said drag, the trailing edge portion of said net including at least two sweep chain sections connected to the frame adjacent the frame rod to enable the leading edge to conform to the contour of the sea bottom, and means mounted on said frame for agitating the sea bottom comprising an inclined plate positioned intermediately and forwardly of said cross meinbers and upon said brace means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 297,079 Homan Apr. 15, 1884 379,422 Smith Mar. 13, 1888 1,600,839 Mudge Sept. 21, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,457 Great Britain July 17 ,1889 299,779 Italy Aug. 16, 1932 680,699 France May 5, 1930 

